Whether you are just starting your career in security, or you are wanting to advance in order to get more challenging work with better pay, taking additional training above and beyond what's required will help you get there. Taking additional courses sets you a part and shows you are serious about your career, growing and learning, and being an even better security professional.
In some cases, employers may require you to take specific, additional training, before being hired, so check with the specific job posting or your employer about their requirements. For example, Titan Security Guard Services requires you to take an additional four courses prior to getting hired by them. If you have these courses done ahead of time, before you apply for a job with them, you will increase your chances of getting hired dramatically!
Here are a list of free courses that will help you with your security career that you can take to help give you a leg up on the competition!
ProTect: This is a vital course for security guards and is designed for Security Guards by the Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission. This course teaches you de-escalation tactics, how to protect yourself and co-workers in a group setting where there are inebriated or intoxicated people. This course is online, approximately 4 hours, and it's free. Take this course now by registering on the ProTect website.
FOIP: The Freedom Of Information and Privacy course is taken online through the Government of Alberta website. This is a 1 hour course. It teaches you how to handle sensitive/private information, such as credit cards, personnel files, and to protect client confidentiality. Take this course now on the Service Alberta website. This course is free.
Indigenous Canada. This online is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the U of A Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions. This course is approximately 21 hours and is free. Register now for this online course.
Unconscious Bias. This online 4-module course from Microsoft explores the concept of unconscious bias. In security, this is important to understand how this affects how we see the world, others and our interpretation of specific situations. Take the course for free now.
There are a lot more free courses available out there, if you just do a search for them online.
Other important courses you should also strongly consider taking, but which will likely cost some money, but are well worth the investment are:
WHMIS
Standard First Aid
If you haven't yet started your career in security, start by taking the Alberta Basic Security Training to get your security licence and start working as a security professional.